Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 3:

In page 11, line 29, after “Act” to insert “, other than sections 85, 86, 87, 95, 97, 98, 99, 100,101, 102, 103* and 105**".

This point will not come as any surprise to the Dáil because it arises from our discussions on Committee Stage. Amendment No. 3 is on the provisions relating to the incorporation of educational institutions into technological universities, TUs. A consent for research companies established under TUs will be commenced upon the enactment of the Bill rather than by ministerial order. Section 1 of the Bill provides that the Act:

shall come into operation on such day or days as the Minister may by order or orders appoint either generally or with reference to any particular purpose or provision and different days may be so appointed for different purposes or different provisions.

It is planned that the majority of the Bill will be commenced by ministerial order. However, due to their importance it is proposed that the provisions relating to the incorporation of educational institutions into TUs, and the consent for research companies established under TUs, will be commenced upon the enactment of the Bill. We discussed St. Angela's College at great length on Committee Stage and nobody in this House wishes to see any delay in that process. It would be too simplistic for me to call these the St. Angela's provisions but that is how I think of them.

Amendment No. 112 is a technical amendment to the incorporation provisions to include linked providers under the Quality and Qualifications Ireland, QQI, legislation. This technical amendment was identified by QQI and is similar to an amendment made on Committee Stage to section 55(1)(f).

Amendment No. 117 provides for the insertion of a new section amending section 62 of the Technological Universities Act 2018, dealing with the suspension or dismissal of a member of staff of a dissolved body following incorporation into a technological university. Again, this is a technical amendment.

There are two technical amendments in this section: Nos. 112 and 117. Amendment No. 3 is a substantive amendment to make sure we can commence those provisions upon enactment of the Bill, rather than by ministerial order.

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